________________
Atom in Jain Philosophy
119 composite bodies constituted by less than infinitely infinite (anantānanta) paramānus. Only when the number of constituent ultimate atoms exceeds the threshold of non-associability, then and only then they could be used by the psychic order of existence. This does not mean that all the composite bodies with larger number than mentioned above possess this attribute. Some of them can be associated and some of them cannot be, as we shall see below.'
5. Āhāra-vargaņā
The fifth category is the first one which crosses the abovementioned threshold of associability. In this category fall the groups of audārika, vaikriya, āhāraka and śvasocchvāsa. Āhāra literally means association. Hence, āhāra varganā stands for the category of pudgala endowed with associability.
6. Prathama agrāhya (i.e. First u nassociable category) 7. Taijas (Luminous) 8. Second unassociable category. 9. Bhāṣā (Matter essential for function of speech).
10. Third unassociable category.
11. Manas (Matter essential for the function of thinking).
12. Fourth unassociable category.
13. Kārmana (Matter responsible for contaminating souls). This is the most subtle category of pudgala which has any practical significance.
14-22. These categories are of little practical significance and are merely of academic interest.
23. The 23rd category is mahāskandha i.e. the largest aggregate which pervades the entire cosmic space.
